Category Archives: history

Today: The Women of Hollywood Cemetery Tour

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From the Valentine Museum website:

Explore the role that women’s groups played in Hollywood Cemetery’s history from the Civil War to the present. Visit grave sites of women who were educators, authors, preservationists, suffragists and humanitarians.

“What a great tour! Full of beautiful views of the city and Virginia history. I will definitely do this tour again.”

Price: $15 Adult, $5 Child, $5 Valentine members
Length: 2 hours
Parking: On Street
Meeting place: Enter at Cherry and Albemarle streets, meet at the rear of the stone structure to the left.

Tour Notes

Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged. Space is limited.
Valentine walking tours are typically between 1-2 miles in length. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water.
Accessibility- People of all abilities are encouraged to join us for tours. If you have accessibility challenges or need accommodation, please let us know in advance.
Tours are held rain or shine. However, in extreme weather a tour may be cancelled. Call 804-649-0711 x 301 to verify the tour will take place.
Admission includes a $5 donation to the Friends of Hollywood Cemetery for ongoing restoration. Tours are made possible through a generous partnership with Hollywood Cemetery.

Damaging Historic Canal (Again)

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Neighbors were horrified today to see this giant excavator actually sitting in the wetlands of the canal scrapping away at the bank of the historic James River and Kanawha Canal, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and also listed as a federally protected wetlands. Sadly, this is certainly not the first time something like this has happened.

In 2011, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported that NewMarket Corporation destroyed a large section of the pre-Civil War Tredegar wall while preparing for a 2nd Street Connector, only obtaining the required permit after the fact. The neighborhood has tried to stay vigilant over the years. Yet in 2014, Venture Richmond destroyed a critical part of the canal.

It appears that this work may or may not be related to repairs on the Robert E. Lee Bridge. Residents are left questioning if more damage can be prevented in the future and what steps will be taken to repair the canal bank. But between the threatening demolition on W.Cary street, the disastrous ‘renovations’ in Monroe Park, and this new Canal situation, it is understandable that Oregon Hill residents and Richmond preservationists feel under siege.

Prom, May 1965, WBCH

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I already shared a link to the Times Dispatch’s photos of this year’s Open High prom, but here is a photo from a prom held at the William Byrd Community House back in 1965. This was posted to a FaceBook group called Oregon Hill Reunion Group. (Ed. note: I will probably be sharing more photos from there in the future for ‘Throwback Thursday’.)

Linda Hester, who contributed the photo, wrote:

In picture top is Hector Martinez, Linda Hester .Bottom left is Butch Neisz and Janie Ho. Bottom right is Beverly Overton and Tommy Clary.Such fun times growing up on the hill and going to the community house for all kinds of activities!!

Correspondent Of The Day- “Hoping developers blend new and old”

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From today’s Times Dispatch…

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

It was with great interest that I recently read the news story about the protest by Oregon Hill residents over the planned development of the Paragon property on Cary Street.

Being a native of Richmond, Oregon Hill and the 600 block of Cary Street both hold a special place in my heart because my great-grandfather, Lewis Jacob, was born in the Jacob House in 1828. He lived with his brothers at various places in and around Oregon Hill and the early Fan during the 19th century.

Understandably, I was most disturbed — as were many others — to see the Jacob House moved in 1995 to its present location. However, in retrospect, the carefully planned addition of modern townhouses which developed behind it tastefully complemented its setting and today stands as a testament to a blending of the old with the new.

I sincerely hope that the developers of the Paragon property will take note that these buildings are living monuments to the people who made Richmond and that they have an opportunity to prove that the past can live with the present.

Robert J. Crouch.

Richmond.